Rhonda Christensen

Rhonda Christensen is a Research Professor and Co-director of the Institute for the Integration of Technology into Teaching and Learning (IITTL) at the University of North Texas. Her work focuses on leveraging technology to enhance teaching practices, particularly in reducing bias and promoting equity through simulated teaching environments. She holds a PhD from the University of North Texas (1997).

Her research interests include technology integration in K-12 classrooms, measuring educator dispositions toward technology, and fostering equitable teaching strategies via simulations. She has pioneered the use of virtual simulations to address implicit bias and improve culturally responsive teaching practices. Her work intersects STEM education, pedagogical reasoning, and middle school student engagement in STEM fields.

Key contributions include developing the simEquity project and simSchool platforms, which use simulations to train educators. Her recent publications emphasize the impact of multi-year professional development programs and the application of NASA resources for space science education. She collaborates internationally on technology integration models and has advised on pandemic-era distance learning strategies in higher education.

Her research consistently bridges theory and practice, with a focus on measurable outcomes like self-efficacy, bias reduction, and equity-focused teaching. She advises on policy implications of educational technology and leads interdisciplinary teams in the IITTL to advance innovative teaching methodologies.